What can I do to remove paint from my formalwear?

Mix a little bit of dish soap with a few drops of white vinegar and generously apply the mixture to the stain with your fingers. Use your butter knife to scrape the paint off the fabric. Rinse the material with cold water and then use a clean paper towel to pat the fabric dry. If the stain has not completely disappeared, try treating it with hydrogen peroxide.

WikiLaundry > Stains > Paint > Formalwear

Get the Paint Stains off Your Formalwear in 5 Easy Steps!

Q: How do I prevent paint stains from setting on my formalwear?

If you notice a paint stain right away, immediately place a piece of plastic wrap or a plastic bag over the stain and carefully dab at it using a paper towel. This will help to prevent the paint from spreading to other areas of the garment.

Accidents happen, and it can be devastating when that accident happens to a nice outfit you're wearing for a special occasion. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to salvage your favorite pieces of formalwear by removing paint stains.

Updated 22 Jun 2023

By Blaž Stančič

Gather Your Supplies

First, you'll need to assemble a few supplies:

Plastic wrap or a plastic bag
Paper towels
Dish soap
White vinegar
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
A butter knife

Prevent the Stain From Setting

As soon as you notice the paint on your formalwear, take action to prevent it from setting. Immediately place a piece of plastic wrap or a plastic bag over the stain and carefully dab at it using a paper towel from the outside of plastic wrap. This will help to prevent the paint from spreading to other areas of the garment.

Apply Cleaners To The Stain

After you've dabbed the paint with a paper towel, mix a little bit of dish soap with a few drops of white vinegar and generously apply the mixture to the stain with your fingers. Use your butter knife to scrape the paint off fabric. Rinse the material with cold water and then use a clean paper towel to pat the fabric dry.

Once the stain has been removed, take a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol and gently rub the area to remove any remaining traces of the stain. Finally, rinse the fabric with cold water one more time and pat dry with a paper towel.

Try Using Hydrogen Peroxide

If the stain has not completely disappeared, try treating it with hydrogen peroxide. Put the stained fabric in a plastic bag and pour enough hydrogen peroxide over it to saturate the stain. Leave the fabric in the plastic bag for several hours. Once the stain has been treated, rinse the fabric with cold water and use a paper towel to remove any excess liquid.

Launder The Garment

Finally, launder the garment according to laundering instructions on tag. Dry the garment on the lowest possible setting and check the stain before removing it from the dryer to make sure that it has been completely removed.

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